Ultrasonic cutting tip for lumbar procedures

Abstract

An ultrasonic tip and methods of operating the same. The ultrasonic tip comprises a shaft including a base and a flexible body. The body comprises a first portion and a second portion. The body is coupled to the base at the first portion and extends from the first portion to the second portion along a longitudinal axis. The second portion includes a cutting portion comprising a neck, and a head extending radially from the longitudinal axis. The head is coupled to the neck. A circular aperture is disposed between the head and the neck to define an inner circumferential surface. The head and the neck form an outer circumferential surface comprising a plurality of cutting teeth, the outer circumferential surface having a first thickness at the head that is greater than a second thickness at the neck.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An ultrasonic tip comprising:
 a shaft including a base and a body, the body comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the body is coupled to the base at the first portion and said body extends from said first portion to said second portion, 
 wherein said second portion includes a cutting portion comprising a neck and a head extending from the neck, 
 wherein the head and the neck collectively define an inner circumferential surface extending between opposed first and second sides of the cutting portion to form a circular aperture disposed between the head and the neck, and collectively define an outer circumferential surface opposite the inner circumferential surface and extending between the opposed first and second sides, the outer circumferential surface defining a plurality of cutting teeth, and 
 wherein the cutting portion has a first thickness defined by a distance between the first and second sides at the neck and a second thickness defined by a distance between the first and second sides at the head, the first thickness being less than second thickness. 
 
     
     
       2. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 1 , wherein the base is cylindrical. 
     
     
       3. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 1 , wherein the body is solid. 
     
     
       4. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is integral, unitary, and one-piece. 
     
     
       5. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture is a through-hole. 
     
     
       6. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 1 , wherein the outer circumferential surface is disposed radially about a center of the aperture and extends more than 180 degrees relative to a central axis of the aperture. 
     
     
       7. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic tip is free from teeth except those disposed on the outer circumferential surface. 
     
     
       8. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the body is at least twice a length of the base, the body has a rectangular-shaped cross-section on an axis that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the body at said first portion and at said second portion, and wherein:
 a first height of the rectangular-shaped cross-section at the first portion is at least three times greater than a first width of the rectangular-shaped cross-section, and 
 a second height of the rectangular-shaped cross-section at the second portion is at least three times greater than a second width of the rectangular-shaped cross-section. 
 
     
     
       9. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 8 , wherein the first height is greater than the second height. 
     
     
       10. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 8 , wherein the first width is greater than the second width. 
     
     
       11. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 1 , wherein a length of a combination of the first portion and the second portion of the body is at least half of a length of the shaft. 
     
     
       12. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 1 , wherein a length of a combination of the first portion and the second portion of the body is greater than half of a length of the shaft. 
     
     
       13. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the cutting portion is less than or equal to 5 millimeters. 
     
     
       14. An ultrasonic tip comprising:
 a shaft including a base and a body, the base having a circular-shaped cross-section, the body comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the body is coupled to the base at the first portion and said body extends from said first portion to said second portion along a longitudinal axis, and said second portion includes a cutting portion, the body having a rectangular-shaped cross-section on an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at said first portion and at said second portion, and wherein: 
 a first height of the rectangular-shaped cross-section at the first portion is at least three times greater than a first width of the rectangular-shaped cross-section, and 
 a second height of the rectangular-shaped cross-section at the second portion is at least three times greater than a second width of the rectangular-shaped cross-section; and 
 wherein the first width is greater than the second width. 
 
     
     
       15. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 14 , wherein the cutting portion comprises a neck and a head, said head extending radially from the longitudinal axis and coupled to said neck. 
     
     
       16. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 14 , wherein a diameter of the cutting portion is less than or equal to 5 millimeters. 
     
     
       17. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 14 , wherein a length of a combination of the first portion and the second portion of the body is at least half of a length of the shaft. 
     
     
       18. The ultrasonic tip of  claim 14 , wherein a length of a combination of the first portion and the second portion of the body is greater than half of a length of the shaft.